Multi-process power spray washer apparatus

ABSTRACT

A self-contained and integrated multi-process power spray washer apparatus to be used to clean articles placed therein, the washer apparatus including a central washing chamber which is large enough to enclose and rotate an article to be cleaned therein. A primary filter removes contaminants from a cleaning solution immediately after it has been used, and a solution reservoir receives and holds filtered cleaning solution from the primary filter. A fan forced electronic burner heats the cleaning solution contained in the reservoir, and provides a heat source for contaminant incineration. An oil skimmer removes oil and grease from an upper surface of the cleansing solution held in the reservoir, and a secondary centrifugal filter through which cleansing solution is pumped from the reservoir additionally filters the solution. A high power sprayer sprays the recycled and clean cleansing solution into the washing chamber at a substantially high volume and pressure so as to substantially clean the item contained within the washing chamber. A fresh water rinse cycle provides for a final fresh water rinse of the article being cleaned and the recycling of the contaminated water prior to reuse or proper drainage. Accordingly, three steps of a cleaning process associated with the present invention include spray washing, recycling and disposal which are fully integrated in the self contained power spray washer apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a self-contained and integrated multi-processpower spray washer apparatus, to be used to clean any and all parts orarticles placed therein, and is structured to power spray wash parts,filter and recycle cleansing solutions, and dispose of all contaminantby-product, thereby providing a cost efficient, highly effective, andenvironmentally acceptable means of cleaning engine parts and the likewhich require thorough cleaning prior to use.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed towards a self-contained andintegrated multi-process power spray washer apparatus to be used toclean any and all parts placed therein. The apparatus includes primarilya central washing chamber which is sufficiently large to enclose androtate completely the item to be cleaned, thereby utilizing thecleansing solution at a substantially high pressure and volume whichmaximizes the effects of the cleaning. Additionally, the washerapparatus includes a primary filter which is structured and disposed toreceive used cleansing solution from the central washing chamber andsubstantially remove contaminants therefrom. This primary filter isinterconnected with a solution reservoir such that the filteredcleansing solution may flow therefrom into the solution reservoir.Within the solution reservoir, the cleansing solution is heated by anintegrated burner so as to maximize the effects of the cleansingsolution. The cleansing solution within the solution reservoir isfurther cleaned by an oil skimmer which removes oil and grease from thecleansing solution. Further included as part of the washer apparatus isa secondary centrifugal filter. This secondary centrifugal filter isstructured such that cleansing solution is pumped from the solutionreservoir therethrough, wherein the solution is further cleansed ofcontaminants. After passing through the secondary centrifugal filter,the cleansing solution is pumped through a high power sprayer whichsprays the cleansing solution into the washing chamber at substantiallyhigh volumes and pressures, thereby cleaning the item contained withinthe washing chamber.

The object of the present invention is to provide a power spray washingapparatus which will thoroughly clean any and all parts, includingengine blocks and the like, which often have large quantities of dirt,grease, and contaminants built up thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spray washerapparatus which enables the cleansing solution to be recycled andreused, yet be effective throughout all of the multiple uses.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a power spraywasher apparatus which is environmentally acceptable and eliminatescontaminant waste.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front, partial cutaway, perspective view of the power spraywasher apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway, side view of the power spray washerapparatus.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is directed towards aself-contained and integrated multi-process power spray washerapparatus, generally indicated as 10, to be used to thoroughly clean anyand all parts which may have substantial dirt, grease, and contaminantsbuilt up thereon. The spray washer apparatus 10 includes a large centralwashing chamber 20 capable of completely enclosing the item to becleaned. Located within the central washing chamber 20 is a pull out,rotating turntable 24 which is structured to be able to support objectsof substantial weight thereon. The rotating turntable 24 is structuredsuch that all sides of the item to be cleaned will be thoroughlysprayed, and as it may be easily pulled out and slid back within thewashing chamber 20, the large and heavy items to be cleaned may beconveniently positioned thereon before insertion into the washingchamber 20. In order to assure maximum sealing efficiency within thewashing chamber 20, and in order to minimize the floor space requiredfor the spray washer apparatus 10, a pair of inwardly opening doors 25are utilized to allow access into the washing chamber 20. Included at alower portion of the washing chamber 20 is a drainage opening 28. Thedrainage opening 28 is structured such that cleansing solution usedwithin the washing chamber 20 may flow therethrough into a primaryfilter 30. The primary filter 30 utilizes a filtration sheet 31 which isstructured to remove a majority of the contaminants contained in theused cleansing solution, and allow passage of the filtered cleansingsolution therethrough. The filtration sheet 31 is positioned at a distalend 32 thereof on an automatic roller 33 which contains the cleanfiltration sheet 31. The filtration sheet 31 is positioned so as to passsubstantially over a drainage area 35. Used cleansing solution flowsinto the drainage area 35 and is filtered by the filtration sheet 31,however, since the portion of the filtration sheet 31 which is over thedrainage area 35 will eventually become saturated with contaminants, afluid level meter 36 is included over the drainage area 35 such thatwhen a predetermined quantity of cleansing solution backs up within thedrainage area 35, thereby indicating the filtration sheet 31 issaturated, it will trigger the automatic roller 33. Once triggered, theautomatic roller 33 causes a clean portion of the filtration sheet 31 tobe positioned atop the drainage area 35, and causes the saturatedproximate end 34 of the filtration sheet 31 to pass into a disposalholding area 40. Further, suction fan 2 located in cleansing solutionreservoir 50 provides negative pressure to augment the flow of cleansingsolution through filtration sheet 31. Additionally, a safety releaseoverflow outlet 39 above filtration sheet 31 and a hood 37 encapsulatingthe drainage area 35 prevent any overflows.

After passage through the drainage area 35, the filtered cleansingsolution passes into the solution reservoir 50 positioned beneath thewashing chamber 20. The contaminant saturated portion 34 of thefiltration sheet 31 after passage into the disposal holding area 40 canbe removed and positioned within a heavy duty incinerator chamber 41,having ceramic lining 43, wherein the saturated portion 34 of thefiltration sheet 31 will be incinerated by a fan forced burner 42. Theincineration formed by this process passes through an exhaust duct 46and out of the spray washer apparatus 10. In addition to incineratingthe filtration sheet 31, the fan forced burner 42 also functions asheating means to heat cleansing solution held within the solutionreservoir 50, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the cleansingsolution. Once within the solution reservoir 50, an oil skimmer 55 isutilized to remove remaining oil or contaminants from the cleansingsolution. The above steps are part of what may be referred to as acleansing cycle or operation. After the cleansing cycle or operation, tobe described in even greater detail hereinafter, has been completed, afiltering cycle may be started by adding flocculent and/or coagulantchemical catalysts contained in catalyst holding tank 12 into thecleaning solution reservoir 50 so as to react with the cleaning solutionand initiate the coagulant and/or flocculent chemical process whichcoagulates or flocculates the finer contaminants for pick up by themechanical, rotating 360 ° sweep 19 which may again be activated duringthe filtering cycle. The rotating sweep 19 once again activated directsthe contaminated solution into an upper portion of the washing chamber20 through a diverter flow tube 27, and into a suction and dischargechamber 15. This flow is induced by a suction mechanism 13 which createsa desired turbulent free flow of the solution for discharge throughdischarge opening 17 into drainage opening 28 therethrough into primaryfilter 30 so as to separate the flocculated and/or coagulatedcontaminants from the recycled solution.

However, during the cleansing cycle or operation the cleansing solutioncontaining gravity settled contaminants is picked up from the solutionreservoir 50 through mechanical rotating 360° sweep 19 at the extremesolution reservoir 50 bottom into pump 60, and through solution conduits62 and 64 into a secondary centrifugal filter 70. The secondarycentrifugal filter 70 revolves the cleansing solution at high speedscausing any remaining contaminated cleansing solution to pass to a lowerportion 71 thereof, and out through a drainage outlet 72. Thiscontaminated cleansing solution passes from the drainage outlet 72 intoan extremely fine filter element 73 so as to separate the contaminantsfrom the recycled solution which is automatically directed back to theholding tank 50. After passage through the secondary centrifugal filter70, the clean, reused cleansing solution passes into a high powersprayer 80. The high power sprayer 80 includes a plurality of nozzles 82which are structured to optimize a solution spray pattern into thecentral washing chamber 20. After introduction of the cleansing solutioninto chamber 20, and the cleaning of an item therein, an additional partof the cleansing cycle includes a fresh water rinse cycle, performedwithin central washing chamber 20. After rinsing the item being cleaned,the initially fresh rinse water, now containing contaminants, is routedor allowed to drain through a diverter door 5 on the drainage opening 28which directs contaminated fresh water rinse fluid through a dischargetube to entry 79 and into a rinse cycle filter 75 which combines afilter roll element plus heavy metal removal media, with activatedcharcoal discharged from the apparatus 10 through a discharge opening77. Contaminants within the rinse water are thereby properly eliminated.Conveniently positioned outside of the central washing chamber 20 is acontrol panel which includes a plurality of gauges to check solutiontemperature, levels and the like, and may further be programmed toperform automated, timed cleaning cycles. Finally, the entire powerspray washer apparatus 10 is heavily polyurethane insulated to reduceheat emission and retain the cleansing solution at a desiredtemperature.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed is:
 1. To beused to power clean any and all parts, a self-contained and integratedmulti-process power spray washer apparatus comprising:a central washingchamber, said chamber being sufficiently large to enclose an item to becleaned therein, a primary filter, said primary filter structured toremove flocculated and/or coagulated contaminants from a cleansingsolution, a solution reservoir, structured to receive the filteredcleansing solution from said primary filter, heating means to heat saidcleansing solution in said reservoir, an oil skimmer structured anddisposed to remove remaining oil and grease from said cleansing solutionin said reservoir, a secondary centrifugal filter through which saidcleansing solution is pumped, said secondary centrifugal filter beingstructured to remove additional contaminants from said cleaning solutionprior to reuse, and a high power sprayer to spray said cleansingsolution, after passage through said secondary centrifugal filter, intosaid washing chamber at a substantially high volume and high pressure soas to clean the item contained within said chamber.
 2. An apparatus asrecited in claim 1 wherein said central washing chamber includes a pullout, rotating turntable whereon said item to be cleaned may bepositioned and rotated within said chamber so as to place all sides ofsaid item under the direct spray of said high power sprayer.
 3. Anapparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said turntable is capable ofsupporting thereon items of substantial weight.
 4. An apparatus asrecited in claim 3 wherein said central chamber includes a pair ofinwardly opening doors structured and disposed to maximize sealingefficiency and minimize floor space requirements.
 5. An apparatus asrecited in claim 4 wherein said primary filter includes a filtrationsheet pulled from a roll on an automatic roller and across a drainagearea, a used portion thereof being discarded into a disposal holdingarea.
 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said drainage areaincludes a fluid level meter means positioned so as to detect when saidcleansing solution attains a predetermined height and said filtrationsheet has become saturated by contaminants and will no longer allowpassage of filtered cleanser therethrough into said solution reservoir,and said meter triggering said automatic roller when the fluid levelreaches the predetermined height so as to move a fresh area of saidfiltration sheet from said roll over said drainage area and directsaturated areas of said filtration sheet into said disposal holdingarea.
 7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said heating meansincludes a fan forced electronic burner.
 8. An apparatus as recited inclaim 7 further including a disposal incineration area having a heavyduty, ceramic lined incinerator, exhaust means, and being structured anddisposed to incinerate said saturated filtration paper using saidelectronic burner.
 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 furtherincluding a mechanical rotating 360° sweep suction mechanism at anextreme bottom of said solution reservoir to assist the flow ofcontaminants and cleansing solution throughout said apparatus.
 10. Anapparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said secondary centrifugalfilter is structured and disposed to direct contaminants to a lowerportion thereof, and send filtered cleansing solution into said highpower sprayer.
 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein saidlower portion of said secondary filter includes a drainage outlet todirect the contaminants into a fine filter element so as to separate thecontaminants from the recycled solution prior to being directed backinto said solution reservoir.
 12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11further including a chemical catalyst added into said solution reservoirto chemically induce removal of contaminants from the cleansingsolution.
 13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 which includes anintegral fresh water rinse cycle with provisions for diverting freshwater rinse through several stages of filtration removing the majorityof contaminants for reuse or proper drainage.
 14. An apparatus asrecited in claim 13 wherein said high power sprayer includes a pluralityof nozzles structured and disposed to optimize a solution spray pattern.